Wyandotte Street

Location: Windsor, Ontario

Walkerville District, known to locals as Olde Walkerville, offers the perfect blend of hip and history. As one of the most unique neighborhoods around, Walkerville has a rich history steeped in the early days of Prohibition-era smuggling. Now a modern and lively part of Windsor, Ontario; Walkerville retains its heritage and the innate sense of “small town” welcome. With vibrant boutique shopping and dining nestled among Windsor’s largest collection of heritage properties, Walkerville is a one-stop for all shopping, dining, and entertainment needs.

The Business Improvement Association’s goal for the development was to recreate Walkerville into an upscale shopping and entertainment area. With only a river-crossing away from Detroit’s 4.2 million population, Windsor’s immaculate riverfront parks and world-class casino have always been popular attractions for Detroit area residents, in addition to the city’s own populace.

The $3 million makeover, constructed by J&J Lepera Infrastructures, started in 2014 and took the districts quaint characteristics and historic culture to new heights. The revitalization encompassed five blocks along Wyandotte Street between Chilver Road and Devonshire Road. Plentiful tree plantings along Wyandotte Street, in addition to new street furnishings and site amenities, were a vital part of achieving the desired goal for the area. The project utilized a completely custom selection of street furnishings – a new assortment named the Wyandotte™ Collection which is now offered through GreenBlue’s street furnishing range.

Wyandotte™ tree pit fences protect new landscape elements, and with the use of GreenBlue’s ArborSystem® for tree planting, the trees have been given everything they need to thrive and reach full maturity – without sacrificing the structural integrity of the paved surface.

By creating what BIA Coordinator Veronica Samek calls “the hottest area in the region”, Walkerville has been said to share many features with nearby Toronto’s famous Yorkville – one of the most prestigious shopping districts in the world. When asked about the new Walkerville being referred to as Windsor’s Yorkville, the BIA representative replied, “I’m good with that!”

The Wyandotte Street revitalization project is another example of how GreenBlue is “establishing the future urban landscape”.